Input device and method for controlling input device

ABSTRACT

An input device includes a touch sensor, a pressure detection unit configured to detect pressure on the touch sensor, and a control unit that performs control to execute predetermined processing when, in a state such that the touch sensor detects contact inside a predetermined region, data based on pressure detected by the pressure detection unit satisfies a predetermined standard, and performs control not to execute the predetermined processing when, in a state such that the data based on pressure detected by the pressure detection unit satisfies a predetermined standard, the touch sensor detects contact that transitions from outside the predetermined region to inside the predetermined region.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 14/354,172 filed on Apr. 25, 2014, which is a National Phase ofInternational Application Number PCT/JP2012/005121, filed Aug. 10, 2012,and claims priority to and the benefit of Japanese Patent ApplicationNo. 2011-236534 filed Oct. 27, 2011. The disclosures of all theabove-listed prior-filed applications are hereby in incorporated byreference herein in their entirely.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an input device provided with a touchsensor and to a method for controlling an input device.

BACKGROUND

For mobile terminals such as mobile phones, for example, a variety ofinput devices allowing users to operate the terminals have beendeveloped according to the function and usage of each of the terminals.Often, the input devices are configured such that a user performs aninput operation by directly depressing mechanical keys or buttons,prearranged on the surface of the body of the mobile terminal, with afinger or the like.

Such mechanical keys (for example, a numeric keypad) of the input devicein the terminal are normally prearranged to suit the primary usage ofthe terminal. Accordingly, the initially prescribed physical arrangementof such keys cannot generally be changed afterward.

Recently, a variety of functions have been incorporated into smallmobile terminals, such as a digital camera function and a music playerfunction incorporated into mobile phones. Like mobile phones, someterminals have numerous supplementary functions incorporated therein inaddition to the main usage of the terminal, whereas some singleterminals, including PDAs (Personal Digital Assistant: mobileinformation terminal), smartphones, and tablet terminals have aplurality of main usages such as schedule management, an address book,and the like. If the keys of such terminals are fixedly arranged, it mayinconvenience users significantly when performing an input operation,depending on the function used.

In order to resolve such inconvenience during input operations, someinput devices such as an operation unit, switches, or the like fordetecting an input operation by the user are provided with a touchsensor such as a touch panel, touch switch, or the like (for example,see Patent Literature 1). The input device having such a touch panelgenerally displays images of operation keys, buttons, or the like, aswell as a character or character string to prompt for user input(referred to below as an “object”) on a display screen of the touchpanel. When the user presses an object displayed on the display screen,an input unit (touch sensor) at a corresponding position on the touchpanel detects the contact.

A variety of types of such a touch sensor are known, including aresistive film type, a capacitive type, and an optical type. All ofthese types of touch sensors, however, simply detect contact by a fingeror stylus pen. Upon being contacted, the touch sensor itself is notphysically displaced like a mechanical push-button switch.

The mobile phone described in Patent Literature 1 can display objectsarranged in a desired manner on the display screen of the touch paneland detect contact by the user. This mobile phone also allows for freearrangement of keys and the like. Accordingly, when switching betweenfunctions of the terminal, this mobile phone can provide excellentoperability by freely changing the arrangement of the objects to suitthe functions. For example, when the user uses the digital camerafunction incorporated into the mobile phone, the mobile phone candisplay an object constituting an operation unit of a digital camera onthe touch panel and detect user operation. By contrast, when the userinputs characters for an e-mail or the like using the mobile phone, themobile phone can display an object constituting a keyboard similar tothat of a personal computer (PC) on the touch panel and detect contact.In this way, by including the touch panel, this mobile phone can detecta user operation while optimizing a single input device for each of aplurality of functions.

In addition, since the input device including the touch panel detectscontact by the user directly contacting (touching), with a fingertip orthe like, an object displayed on the display unit, the user can performoperations in a highly intuitive manner. In other words, the userperforms operations by directly contacting, with a fingertip or thelike, the object displayed on the screen, following guidance displayedon the screen of the touch panel. Accordingly, the user can cause theterminal to execute processing extremely easily with an intuitiveoperation, following the guidance displayed on the screen. Hence, aneffect of reducing erroneous operations can be expected.

Since a touch panel thus has the advantages of enhancing flexibility inconfiguring the input unit and of allowing the user to perform an inputoperation in a highly intuitive manner, the number of the terminaldevices including an input device provided with such a touch panel isincreasing.

Input devices having the above-described touch panels are now commonlyused not only in mobile terminals, but also, for example, AutomaticTeller Machines (ATMs) at banks and the like, and ticket vendingmachines at places such as train stations. Additionally, in stores suchas fast-food shops, clerks use terminal devices provided with an inputdevice having the above-described touch panel to process orders fromcustomers. Using the touch panel in the input device eliminates the needfor mechanical operation buttons or keys, such as a keyboard separatefrom the touch panel. Accordingly, since only a small area on the bodyof the terminal device is required for arrangement of mechanical buttonsand the like, the terminal device can be reduced in overall size.Therefore, the degree of freedom for the location to install theterminal device in shops, train stations, and the like increases.

CITATION LIST

Patent Literature 1: JP 2006-311224 A

SUMMARY

An input device having such a touch sensor can detect a variety of formsof input operations that would be difficult to perform with an inputdevice having a regular keyboard or the like. For example, an inputdevice having a touch sensor can detect an input operation whereby theuser contacts the touch face, and while maintaining contact, displacesthe contact along the touch face, i.e. slide input. Slide input is acharacteristic input format unique to a touch sensor. Depending on theform of the input operation, slide input allows for an extremelyconvenient, easy, and intuitive input operation.

An input device having a touch sensor, however, generally starts toexecute predetermined processing based on contact to the touch facecorresponding to a position at which an object, such as a key or thelike, is displayed. Therefore, the user providing slide input needs tobe careful with the path of the finger that is slid. When the user isproviding slide input while aiming for a final position, the user maynot be particularly aware of the locations traversed during the slideinput. By thus performing an operation focusing only on the finalposition of the slide input, the user runs the risk of startingexecution of unintended processing. An example of such a case isdescribed below.

FIGS. 8A to 8D schematically illustrate an example of a form ofprocessing by a known input device provided with a touch sensor. Thisexample is assumed to be a situation where the user uses an input deviceprovided with a touch sensor to perform an input operation for an onlinetransfer at an Internet site for a bank or the like. FIGS. 8A to 8D showthe display on the touch panel of a mobile terminal, such as a mobilephone, or an ATM terminal or the like installed in a bank or otherfacility. When an object such as a key, button, or the like is displayedon the touch panel, the input device can detect an operation by which,with a finger or the like, the user directly contacts the touch panel(touch sensor) displaying the object.

FIG. 8A illustrates the state after the user inputs the transfer amountby an input operation using a numeric key or the like. Suppose the userhas input the digits for an amount of money of 100,000 yen as thetransfer amount. As shown in FIG. 8A, the input device displays anobject for an “input complete” button in the lower-left corner. Once theuser has finished inputting an amount, the input device detects contactwhen the user performs an operation to contact the “input complete”button directly.

FIG. 8B shows a state in which the screen display of the touch panel hastransitioned to a pre-transfer confirmation screen, since the user haspressed the “input complete” button in FIG. 8A. In this case, the inputdevice can detect contact by the user on the “transfer” button, which isfor executing the transfer of the input amount of money. Before actuallyexecuting the transfer, however, it is assumed that the user mightnotice a mistake in the transfer amount and correct the transfer amount.By detecting user contact to the “correction” button for correctinginput of the transfer amount, this input device allows the user to inputthe transfer amount again. In other words, in FIG. 8B, after releasingthe finger from the touch sensor, the user can then press the“correction” button to input the transfer amount again.

Due to the pressing of the “input complete” button in FIG. 8A, however,the screen has switched as shown in FIG. 8B, and the position of objectshas changed. Therefore, suppose that the user has performed slide inputfrom the state in which the “input complete” button is pressed in FIG.8A directly to the “correction” button in FIG. 8B. When the userprovides such slide input, then as illustrated in FIG. 8B, the slideinput traverses the “transfer” button before reaching the “correction”button at the final position. As described above, an input device havinga touch sensor generally starts to execute predetermined processingbased on contact to the touch face corresponding to a position at whichan object, such as a button or the like, is displayed.

Accordingly, in this case, before the user's slide input reaches the“correction” button, the “transfer” button is contacted. Hence, theinput device ends up starting execution of processing corresponding tothe “transfer” button, as illustrated in FIG. 8C. As a result, eventhough the user wanted to press the “correction” button, the inputdevice ends up starting transfer processing based on the contact to the“transfer” button, and as illustrated in FIG. 8D, transfer processing iscompleted against the user's will.

In this way, when a finger that the user is sliding contacts a locationat which contact is detected, execution of processing corresponding tothat location starts regardless of the user's intent. Accordingly, theuser needs to pay attention to movement of the sliding finger whenproviding slide input using a touch sensor, or else an unintendedoperation may be detected, with execution of processing starting againstthe user's will. From the perspective of the input device, suchprocessing is normal processing in accordance with prescribedprocedures, yet from the user's perspective, such processing isconsidered unintentional. The execution of such processing can becomeextremely stressful for the user.

In greater detail, when such an input device is applied to a smallmobile terminal, the area of the touch sensor is limited by the need foran overall compact housing, yet from the perspective of ensuringoperability, the objects such as buttons cannot be made too small.Therefore, especially in a small mobile terminal, the above-describedproblem is considered to occur easily, and it is assumed that executionof processing not intended by the user will occur more frequently.

In order to address the above-described problem, one idea is to providethe above-described known input device with a pressure detection unitthat detects pressure on the touch sensor. In other words, one approachis for the input device not to start execution of correspondingprocessing upon the detection of mere contact to an object, such as abutton, but rather to start execution of corresponding processing oncethe pressure detection unit has detected pressure of a predeterminedstandard. Based on the setting of the predetermined standard, this inputdevice does not react only to light contact to an object, such as abutton, but rather reacts when an object, such as a button, is pusheddown with pressure having a force that exceeds the predeterminedstandard. With such an input device, execution of predeterminedprocessing based on contact does not start at the moment the contact isdetected. Therefore, it is thought that execution of processing notintended by the user can be prevented from starting.

When using such an input device, however, if the pressure when the usercontacts the above-described “input complete” button in FIG. 8A exceedsa predetermined standard, and the user then provides slide input stillaccompanied by predetermined pressure in the state in FIG. 8B, theresult is the same as in the above-described example. In other words, inthis case, when the finger performing the slide input operationtraverses the position of the “transfer” button in FIG. 8B, pressuresatisfying a predetermined standard is detected. Accordingly, the inputdevice detects an operation on the “transfer” button as illustrated inFIG. 8C and completes transfer processing against the user's will, asillustrated in FIG. 8D.

The present invention has thus been conceived in light of the abovecircumstances and provides an input device, as well as a method forcontrolling an input device, that can prevent execution of processingbased on input not intended by the user when detecting slide input on atouch sensor.

An input device according to a first aspect of the present inventionincludes a touch sensor; a pressure detection unit configured to detectpressure on the touch sensor; and a control unit configured to performcontrol to execute predetermined processing when, in a state such thatthe touch sensor detects contact inside a predetermined region, databased on pressure detected by the pressure detection unit satisfies apredetermined standard, and to perform control not to execute thepredetermined processing when, in a state such that the data based onpressure detected by the pressure detection unit satisfies apredetermined standard, the touch sensor detects contact thattransitions from outside the predetermined region to inside thepredetermined region.

An input device according to a second aspect of the present inventionincludes a touch sensor; a pressure detection unit configured to detectpressure on the touch sensor; and a control unit configured to performcontrol to execute predetermined processing when, in a state such thatthe touch sensor detects contact inside a predetermined region, databased on pressure detected by the pressure detection unit satisfies afirst standard, and to perform control to execute the predeterminedprocessing when, in a state such that the data based on pressuredetected by the pressure detection unit satisfies the first standard,the touch sensor detects contact that transitions from outside thepredetermined region to inside the predetermined region and the databased on pressure detected by the pressure detection unit satisfies asecond standard higher than the first standard.

A third aspect of the present invention is the input device according tothe second aspect of the present invention, such that the control unitsets the second standard in accordance with data based on pressuresatisfying the first standard.

An input device according to a fourth aspect of the present inventionexecutes predetermined processing when a contacting object pressesinside a predetermined region of a touch sensor and that does notexecute the predetermined processing when the contacting object, whilepressing the touch sensor, transitions from outside the predeterminedregion to inside the predetermined region.

A method for control according to a fifth aspect of the presentinvention causes an input device to execute predetermined processingwhen a contacting object presses inside a predetermined region of atouch sensor and not to execute the predetermined processing when thecontacting object, while pressing the touch sensor, transitions fromoutside the predetermined region to inside the predetermined region.

According to the input device of the present invention, predeterminedprocessing is executed when, in a state such that contact is detectedinside a predetermined region, data based on pressure satisfies apredetermined standard. Furthermore, according to the input device ofthe present invention, the predetermined processing is not executedwhen, in a state such that the data based on pressure satisfies apredetermined standard, contact that transitions from outside thepredetermined region to inside the predetermined region of the touchsensor is detected. Accordingly, even when slide input accompanied bypredetermined pressure slides to the position of an object,predetermined processing is not executed, thereby preventing executionof processing based on input not intended by the user.

Furthermore, according to an embodiment of the present invention, thepredetermined processing is executed when, in a state such that the databased on pressure satisfies the first standard, contact that transitionsfrom outside the predetermined region to inside the predetermined regionof the touch sensor is detected and the data based on pressure satisfiesa second standard higher than the first standard. Accordingly, whenslide input accompanied by predetermined pressure slides to the positionof an object, predetermined processing is executed based on anintentional user operation accompanied by strong pressure, therebypreventing execution of processing based on input not intended by theuser.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention will be further described below with reference tothe accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating the configurationof an input device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIGS. 2A to 2B illustrate an exemplary housing structure of the inputdevice according to Embodiment 1;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating processing by the input deviceaccording to Embodiment 1;

FIGS. 4A to 4D schematically illustrate an example of a form ofprocessing by the input device according to Embodiment 1;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating processing by an input deviceaccording to Embodiment 2;

FIGS. 6A to 6D schematically illustrate an example of a form ofprocessing by the input device according to Embodiment 2;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating processing by an input deviceaccording to Embodiment 3; and

FIGS. 8A to 8D schematically illustrate an example of a form ofprocessing by a known input device.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The following describes embodiments of the present invention withreference to the drawings. The input device according to the presentembodiment may be applied to the input device used in a mobile terminalsuch as a mobile phone, in a smart phone, in a tablet, or in a carnavigation system, as well as the input device used in a variety ofapparatuses, such as industrial devices (factory automation equipment),audio devices and other sound equipment, electronic instruments,household appliances, gaming devices, ticket vending machines, and thelike, and to a wide variety of other input terminals.

Embodiment 1

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating the configurationof an input device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, an input device 1 according to Embodiment 1includes a touch sensor 11, pressure detection unit 12, tactilesensation providing unit 13, display unit 14, and control unit 15. Thecontrol unit 15 is a processor that controls the overall processing ofthe input device 1, starting with the functional units.

The touch sensor 11 is normally provided on the front face of thedisplay unit 14 and detects, on a corresponding touch face of the touchsensor 11, contact by the user's finger or the like to a key, button, orthe like (referred to below simply as a “key or the like”) displayed onthe display unit 14. Based on output from the touch sensor 11, thecontrol unit 15 can learn the position at which contact was detected onthe touch sensor 11. The touch sensor 11 is of a well-known type, suchas a resistive film type, capacitive type, optical type, or the like. Torefer to detection of contact on the touch sensor 11 at a positioncorresponding to a position at which an object is displayed on thedisplay unit 14, abbreviations such as “detecting contact at theposition of an object”, “contacting an object”, or the like are usedbelow as appropriate.

The pressure detection unit 12 detects pressure when the user performsan operation on the touch sensor 11 and is configured using, forexample, a device or the like such as a strain gauge sensor, apiezoelectric element, or the like that experiences a change in physicalor electrical characteristics (strain, resistance, voltage, or the like)in response to pressure. When the pressure detection unit 12 isconfigured using a piezoelectric element or the like, for example, themagnitude of the voltage (voltage value (referred to below as data basedon pressure)), which is an electrical characteristic, of thepiezoelectric element changes in accordance with the magnitude of theload (force) of the pressure on the touch sensor 11 (or the speed atwhich the magnitude of the load (force) changes (acceleration)). Whendata based on pressure is at least a predetermined threshold, thecontrol unit 15 performs control to execute predetermined processingbased, for example, on an application.

The control unit 15 acquires the data based on pressure by the pressuredetection unit 12 notifying the control unit 15 of the data based onpressure, or by the control unit 15 detecting data based on pressure ofthe pressure detection unit 12. In other words, the control unit 15acquires the data based on pressure on the touch sensor 11 from thepressure detection unit 12. Note that instead of a voltage value, thedata based on pressure may be power, resistance, magnitude of the load,or the like related to the pressure.

Alternatively, the pressure detection unit 12 may measure the change inthe gap between the touch sensor 11 and the display unit 14 occurringwhen the touch sensor 11 is pressed by the user. In this case, the databased on pressure corresponds to the value of the change in the gap.Alternatively, the pressure detection unit 12 may measure the change inthe gap between the touch sensor 11 and another component, such as acircuit board.

Furthermore, the pressure detection unit 12 can be configured inaccordance with the contact detection type of the touch sensor 11. Forexample, if the touch sensor 11 is a resistive film type, aconfiguration without a strain gauge sensor, piezoelectric element, orthe like may be adopted by associating the magnitude of the resistancethat corresponds to the size of the contact area with the load (force)of the pressure on the contact face of the touch panel. Alternatively,if the touch sensor 11 is a capacitive type, a configuration without astrain gauge sensor, a piezoelectric element, or the like may be adoptedby associating the magnitude of the capacitance with the load (force) ofthe pressure on the touch panel.

The tactile sensation providing unit 13 vibrates the touch sensor 11 andmay be configured using, for example, a piezoelectric vibrator or thelike. Via the tactile sensation providing unit 13, vibration can betransmitted to a finger, stylus pen, or the like (contacting object) incontact with the touch sensor 11. The tactile sensation providing unit13 can also be configured to vibrate the touch face of the touch sensor11 indirectly by transmitting vibration to the input device 1 via avibration motor (eccentric motor) or the like.

By vibrating the tactile sensation providing unit in response topressure detected by the pressure detection unit 12 (pressure on thetouch sensor 11), the tactile sensation providing unit 13 can generatevibration and provide a tactile sensation to the user's finger or thelike, thereby providing the user pressing the touch sensor 11 with asensory understanding that an operation has been performed. The pressuredetection unit 12 may be configured integrally with the tactilesensation providing unit 13. Especially when the pressure detection unit12 and the tactile sensation providing unit 13 are both configured usinga piezoelectric element, a pressure detection unit/tactile sensationproviding unit can be configured to share the same piezoelectricelement. The reason is that a piezoelectric element generates voltagewhen pressure is applied and deforms upon application of voltage.

The tactile sensation providing unit 13 can also be configured togenerate vibration by driving a piezoelectric element, which also servesas the pressure detection unit 12, when the magnitude of the voltage(voltage value (data)) of the piezoelectric element satisfies apredetermined standard. Stating that the magnitude of the voltage(voltage value (data)) of the piezoelectric element satisfies apredetermined standard may refer to the voltage value (data) reaching apredetermined standard, to the voltage value (data) exceeding apredetermined standard, or to detection of a voltage value (data)equivalent to a predetermined standard.

The display unit 14 displays a variety of objects and the like, startingwith objects for input, and is configured using a liquid crystal display(LCD), an organic EL display, or the like. In the present embodiment,the display unit 14 renders and displays objects based on applicationsoftware.

FIGS. 2 and 2B illustrate an exemplary housing structure of the inputdevice 1 illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional diagram ofthe main portions, and FIG. 2B is a plan view of the main portions. Thedisplay unit 14 is contained in a housing 21. The touch sensor 11 isheld on the display unit 14 via insulators 22 made of elastic members.Note that the display unit 14 and the touch sensor 11 in the inputdevice 1 according to the present embodiment are shown as rectangles inplan view. The shape of the display unit 14 and the touch sensor 11,however, may be suited to a variety of specifications, such as the shapeof the housing. In the present embodiment, the touch sensor 11 is heldon the display unit 14 via the insulators 22 arranged at four cornersoutside a display area A of the display unit 14 illustrated by a phantomline in FIG. 2B.

The housing 21 is provided with an upper cover 23 covering a surfacearea of the touch sensor 11 outside the display area of the display unit14. An insulator 24 made from an elastic member is also provided betweenthe upper cover 23 and the touch sensor 11.

The touch sensor 11 illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B has a surface member,configured for example using a transparent film or glass, and has a rearface member configured using glass or acryl. The surface member includesa touch face 11 a. The touch sensor 11 is preferably structured so thatwhen the touch face 11 a is pressed, the pressed part bends (strains)slightly in response to the pressure force, or the entire structurebends slightly.

Strain gauge sensors 31 for detecting the load (pressure force) appliedto the touch sensor 11 are provided, by attachment or the like, on thesurface of the touch sensor 11 near each side thereof at a positioncovered by the upper cover 23. Furthermore, piezoelectric vibrators 32for vibrating the touch sensor 11 are provided, by attachment or thelike, on the rear face of the touch sensor 11 near two opposing sidesthereof. In other words, in the input device illustrated in FIGS. 2A and2B, the pressure detection unit 12 illustrated in FIG. 1 is configuredusing four strain gauge sensors 31, and the tactile sensation providingunit 13 is configured using two piezoelectric vibrators 32. The tactilesensation providing unit 13 vibrates the touch face 11 a by vibratingthe touch sensor 11. Note that in FIG. 2B, the housing 21, upper cover23, and insulator 24 illustrated in FIG. 2A are omitted.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating control processing for slide input inthe input device according to Embodiment 1.

Control processing for slide input according to Embodiment 1 starts atthe point when the touch sensor 11 detects contact by the user's fingeror the like. Once the touch sensor 11 detects user contact, the controlunit 15 determines whether the contact is detected inside apredetermined region (step S11). In the present embodiment, the above“predetermined region” refers to a location where an object for whichcontact is to be detected, such as a key or the like, is displayed onthe display unit 14. Accordingly, when contact is detected inside thepredetermined region, contact is detected in a region of the touchsensor 11 corresponding to the location where an object for whichcontact is to be detected, such as a key or the like, is displayed onthe display unit 14.

When contact is determined to be detected inside the predeterminedregion in step S11, the control unit 15 determines whether data based onpressure detected by the pressure detection unit 12 satisfies apredetermined standard (step S12). Note that the pressure detection unit12 detects the load from, for example, the average of output from thefour strain gauge sensors 31 illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B. As thepredetermined standard that the data based on pressure satisfies, astandard corresponding to a value of 1 N (newton) or the like, forexample, is preferably set in advance taking into consideration databased on pressure when the user performs a regular push operation, andthe setting can preferably be changed subsequently. So that thepredetermined standard is not satisfied when the user performs light,unintentional contact, and in order to impart a sense of pressure to theuser to provide a realistic tactile sensation, the standard is not setexcessively low, taking into consideration the pressure at the time ofintentional pressure input by the user (for example, an average value orthe like). Note that even if contact is detected inside thepredetermined region in step S11, if the data based on pressure detectedby the pressure detection unit 12 in step S12 does not satisfy thepredetermined standard, the control unit 15 returns to step S11 andcontinues processing.

In step S12, when the data based on pressure detected by the pressuredetection unit 12 satisfies the predetermined standard (when the touchsensor 11 is pressed), the control unit 15 controls the tactilesensation providing unit 13 to provide a tactile sensation (step S13)and performs control to execute predetermined processing (step S14). Inother words, in the present embodiment, the control unit 15 performscontrol to execute predetermined processing when, in a state such thatthe touch sensor 11 detects contact inside the predetermined region,data based on pressure detected by the pressure detection unit 12satisfies a predetermined standard (i.e. when the contacting objectpresses inside the predetermined region of the touch sensor 11). In stepS13, the control unit 15 drives the tactile sensation providing unit 13with a predetermined drive signal so as to vibrate the touch sensor 11with a preset, predetermined vibration pattern and provide a tactilesensation. Via this vibration, the user can recognize that the user'sinput operation has been detected normally by the input device 1.

The “predetermined processing” in step S14 refers to processing that isprescribed in advance and associated with the object for which contactwas detected. For example, when the object for which contact wasdetected is a key for character input, the control unit 15 executesprocessing to display (output) the character. In the above-describedexample illustrated in FIGS. 8A to 8D, when the object for which contactis detected is the “input complete” object in FIG. 8A, the control unit15 executes processing to transition to the confirmation screen in FIG.8B. When the object for which contact is detected is the “transfer”object in FIG. 8B, the control unit 15 executes processing for thetransfer, and in the case of input to the “correction” object, executesprocessing for correction.

With the above processing, when the data based on pressure detected atthe position of an object does not satisfy the predetermined standard,processing is not executed. Therefore, even if the user lightly contactsan object unintentionally, execution of processing based on input notintended by the user is avoided. The input device 1 stimulates the senseof pressure until the data based on pressure applied to the touch sensor11 satisfies a standard for providing a tactile sensation (for example,a standard corresponding to 1 N), and upon the data based on pressuresatisfying the standard, the input device 1 stimulates the sense oftouch by driving the piezoelectric vibrators 32 with a predetermineddrive signal to vibrate the touch face 11 a. In this way, the inputdevice 1 can, for example, provide a realistic click sensation similarto that obtained when pushing a button switch such as a push-buttonswitch (push-type button switch).

On the other hand, when the contact is determined to be detected outsidethe predetermined region in step S11, the control unit 15 determineswhether contact has been released by the user separating the finger orthe like from the touch sensor 11 (step S15). In the present embodiment,outside the “predetermined region” refers to a location where an objectfor which contact is to be detected, such as a key or the like, is notdisplayed on the display unit 14. Accordingly, when contact is detectedoutside the predetermined region, contact is detected in a region of thetouch sensor 11 corresponding to a location where an object for whichcontact is to be detected, such as a key or the like, is not displayedon the display unit 14.

When contact has not been released in step S15, the control unit 15returns to step S11 and continues processing. On the other hand, whencontact has been released in step S15, the control unit 15 terminatesthe processing of the present embodiment without executing theprocessing in step S13 or the processing in step S14, i.e. withoutexecuting processing corresponding to the input operation. In otherwords, in the present embodiment, the control unit 15 performs controlnot to execute the predetermined processing when, in a state such thatthe data based on pressure detected by the pressure detection unit 12satisfies a predetermined standard, the touch sensor 11 detects contactthat transitions from outside the predetermined region to inside thepredetermined region (i.e. when the contacting object, while pressing,transitions from outside the predetermined region to inside thepredetermined region of the touch sensor 11). Accordingly, even whenslide input slides to the position of an object while the data based onpressure still satisfies the predetermined standard, predeterminedprocessing is not executed, thereby preventing execution of processingbased on an input operation not intended by the user.

FIGS. 4A to 4D schematically illustrate an example of a form ofprocessing by the input device according to Embodiment 1. FIGS. 4A to 4Dillustrates the situation of processing by the input device described inFIGS. 8A to 8 d above as applied to the input device 1 of the presentembodiment. In other words, a situation is described where the user usesthe input device 1 of the present embodiment to perform an inputoperation for an online transfer at an Internet site for a bank or thelike.

FIG. 4A illustrates the state after the user inputs the transfer amountby an input operation using a numeric key or the like. Suppose the userhas input the digits for an amount of money of 100,000 yen as thetransfer amount. As shown in FIG. 4A, the input device 1 displays anobject for an “input complete” button in the lower-left corner of thedisplay unit 14. Once the user finishes inputting the amount, the inputdevice 1 detects contact to the “input complete” object (step S11), andonce contact is detected, determines whether data based on pressureaccompanying the contact satisfies a predetermined standard (step S12).

Once the data based on pressure accompanying contact to the “inputcomplete” object satisfies the predetermined threshold, the input device1 provides a tactile sensation with the tactile sensation providing unit13 (step S13) and displays the confirmation screen shown in FIG. 4B onthe display unit 14 (step S14). In this way, using the input device 1,the user can perform almost the same input operation as when using theknown input device illustrated in FIGS. 8A to 8D. The input deviceillustrated in FIGS. 8A to 8D differs, however, in that execution ofpredetermined processing starts by an operation simply to contact thetouch sensor, whereas in the input device 1, execution of predeterminedprocessing starts when data based on pressure accompanying contactsatisfies a predetermined standard. Note that due to this difference, asdescribed above, the start of undesired processing based on an operationwhen the user unintentionally performs light contact can be avoided, andfurthermore, the user can be provided with a realistic tactilesensation.

FIG. 4B shows the point at which display has changed from FIG. 4A to aconfirmation screen. FIG. 4B illustrates a state such that the user isstill pressing a location at which the “input complete” objectoriginally existed, yet at which no object exists anymore, and the databased on pressure still satisfies the predetermined standard.Thereafter, as illustrated in FIG. 4B, suppose that the user hasprovided slide input to the “correction” object while the data based onpressure still satisfies the predetermined standard. In this state,however, predetermined processing (step S14) has already been executed,and the processing of the present embodiment is complete. Therefore, theinput device 1 executes neither the “transfer” processing nor the“correction” processing. In this way, with the input device 1 of thepresent embodiment, even when slide input slides to the position of anobject while the data based on pressure still satisfies thepredetermined standard, predetermined processing is not executed,thereby preventing execution of processing based on an input operationnot intended by the user.

Note that in this case, the user can cause the input device 1 to execute“correction” processing by first releasing the finger or the like fromthe touch sensor 11 to break contact, then contacting the “correction”object anew as illustrated in FIG. 4C and causing the data based onpressure accompanying the contact to satisfy the predetermined standard.Contact to the “correction” object is detected anew (step S11), and oncethe data based on pressure accompanying the contact satisfies thepredetermined standard (step S12), the input device 1 provides a tactilesensation (step S13) and executes processing corresponding to the“correction” object as illustrated in FIG. 4D (step S14).

Embodiment 2

Next, an input device according to Embodiment 2 of the present inventionis described. The input device according to Embodiment 2 can be achievedwith the same structure as the input device 1 described in Embodiment 1and represents a partial modification to the processing by the controlunit 15 described in Embodiment 1. Accordingly, description identical toEmbodiment 1 is omitted as appropriate.

When, in the above-described Embodiment 1, slide input slides to theposition of an object while the data based on pressure still satisfiesthe predetermined standard, Embodiment 2 allows the user to perform aninput operation for the object to which the user has slid the finger orthe like without release from the touch sensor 11.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating control processing for slide input inthe input device according to Embodiment 2. For the flowchart in FIG. 5,a description of steps similar to the flowchart for the input deviceaccording to Embodiment 1 as described in FIG. 3 is omitted asappropriate.

The “predetermined region” in step S11 of the flowchart in FIG. 3becomes a “first region” in FIG. 5 (step S21). Furthermore, the“predetermined standard” in step S12 of the flowchart in FIG. 3 becomesa “first standard” in FIG. 5 (step S22). After step S14 of the flowchartin FIG. 3, FIG. 5 also includes steps S23 through S28.

In Embodiment 2, two types of the predetermined region described inEmbodiment 1 are set. For the sake of convenience, these aredistinguished as the first region and the second region. The firstregion can be considered substantially the same as the “predeterminedregion” described in Embodiment 1. The second region is assumed to be aregion corresponding to a location where an object for which contact isto be detected, such as a key or the like, is displayed on the displayunit 14 after execution of predetermined processing (step S14) asdescribed in Embodiment 1.

In Embodiment 2, two types of the predetermined standard are also set.For the sake of convenience, these are distinguished as the firststandard and the second standard. The first standard can be consideredsubstantially the same as the “predetermined standard” described inEmbodiment 1. In Embodiment 2, the second standard is set in advance tobe a higher standard than the first standard. As the second standard, astandard corresponding to a value of 2 N (newtons) or the like, forexample, is preferably set in advance taking into consideration databased on pressure when the user performs an operation by pushingstrongly, and the setting can preferably be changed subsequently.

In Embodiment 2, in a state such that the touch sensor 11 detectscontact in the first region (step S21), when the data based on pressuredetected by the pressure detection unit 12 satisfies the first standard(step S22), the control unit 15 performs control to provide a tactilesensation (step S13) and to execute predetermined processingcorresponding to the first region (step S14), which is nearly identicalto Embodiment 1. Furthermore, when the contact is determined to bedetected outside the first region in step S11, the control unit 15determines whether contact has been released (step S15), returning tostep S11 and continuing processing when the contact has not beenreleased and terminating the processing of the present embodiment whenthe contact has been released. These steps are also similar toEmbodiment 1.

In Embodiment 2, after execution of predetermined processingcorresponding to the first region in step S14, the control unit 15determines whether the data based on pressure detected by the pressuredetection unit 12 satisfies the first standard (step S23). When the databased on pressure satisfies the first standard in step S23, the controlunit 15 determines whether slide input that transitions from outside thesecond region to inside the second region has been detected while thedata based on pressure still satisfies the first standard (step S24). Inother words, in step S24, it is determined whether the user has providedslide input that starts with contact at a location displaying an object(in the first region) for which contact is detected, and after executionof predetermined processing, reaches a region corresponding to alocation displaying an object (in the second region) for which contactis detected while the data based on pressure accompanying the contactcontinues to satisfy the first standard.

When slide input such that the position of contact transitions to insidethe second region while the data based on pressure still satisfies thefirst standard is not detected in step S24, the control unit 15 returnsto step S23 and continues processing. On the other hand, when slideinput such that the position of contact transitions to inside the secondregion while the data based on pressure still satisfies the firststandard is detected in step S24, the control unit 15 determines whetherthe data based on pressure detected by the pressure detection unit 12satisfies the second standard, which is higher than the first standard(step S25).

When the data based on pressure detected by the pressure detection unit12 does not satisfy the second standard in step S25, the control unit 15returns to step S23 and continues processing. On the other hand, whenthe data based on pressure detected by the pressure detection unit 12satisfies the second standard in step S25, the control unit 15 performscontrol to provide a tactile sensation (step S26) and to executeprocessing corresponding to the second region (step S27).

Conversely, when the data based on detected pressure does not satisfythe first standard in step S23, the control unit 15 determines whethercontact has been released (step S28). When contact has not been releasedin step S28, the control unit 15 returns to step S23 and continuesprocessing, whereas when contact has been released, the control unit 15terminates the processing of the present embodiment.

An example of a form of processing by the input device according toEmbodiment 2 is now described, again using FIGS. 4A to 4D.

As illustrated in FIG. 4B, Embodiment 2 is the same as Embodiment 1 inthat even if the user provides slide input to the “correction” objectwhile the data based on pressure still satisfies the first standard, theinput device 1 executes neither the “transfer” processing nor the“correction” processing. Subsequently, however, if an input operationfor which data based on pressure satisfies the second standard, which ishigher than the first standard, is performed on the “correction” object(step S25), the input device 1 executes processing allocated to the“correction” object, as illustrated in FIG. 4C (step S27). In otherwords, as illustrated in FIG. 4D, the input device 1 executes processingfor “correction” (step S27).

FIGS. 6A to 6D schematically illustrate another example of a form ofprocessing by the input device according to Embodiment 2. According tothe input device 1 of Embodiment 2, even if slide input is provided toan object while the data based on pressure accompanying contact stillsatisfies the first standard, execution of processing corresponding tothe object does not start. In Embodiment 2, however, after the slideinput to a position corresponding to a location at which an object isdisplayed, execution of processing corresponding to the object startsupon provision of operation input for which data based on pressureaccompanying contact satisfies the second standard.

Accordingly, even if slide input is provided to the “transfer” object inFIG. 6B while the data based on pressure accompanying contact to the“input complete” object in FIG. 6A still satisfies the first standard,the input device 1 can start execution of processing corresponding tothe “transfer” object. In other words, when the data based on pressureaccompanying contact to the “transfer” object satisfies the secondstandard, the input device 1 starts execution of processingcorresponding to the “transfer object”, as illustrated in FIG. 6C. FIG.6D illustrates how transfer processing is thus completed.

In this way, the input device 1 according to Embodiment 2 can startexecution of processing corresponding to an object even after slideinput. Therefore, according to the input device 1 of Embodiment 3,without releasing the finger or the like from the touch sensor 11 afterslide input, the user can cause execution of processing corresponding toan object to start after slide input with a smooth, sequentialoperation.

Embodiment 3

Next, an input device according to Embodiment 3 of the present inventionis described. The input device according to Embodiment 3 can be achievedwith the same structure as the input device 1 described in Embodiment 2and represents a partial modification to the processing by the controlunit 15 described in Embodiment 2. Accordingly, description identical toEmbodiment 2 is omitted as appropriate.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating control processing for slide input inthe input device according to Embodiment 3. Control processing for slideinput according to Embodiment 3 adds the processing in step S30 afterstep S24 in Embodiment 2 as described in FIG. 5.

From step S23 to step S24 in Embodiment 3, when the data based onpressure detected by the pressure detection unit 12 satisfies the firststandard, the “data based on pressure satisfying the first standard” isstored in a memory unit internal to the control unit 15. In step S24,after detecting slide input that transitions to inside the second regionwhile the data based on pressure still satisfies the first standard, thecontrol unit 15 sets the second standard in accordance with the databased on pressure satisfying the first standard (step S30). In step S30,the control unit 15 can set the second standard by processing such asadding a predetermined value to the average of the data based onpressure that accompanies contact when slide input is provided and thatsatisfies the first standard. A variety of other algorithms may also beused to set the second standard. With such processing, the secondstandard need not be set in advance, and furthermore, the secondstandard can be set to match the pressure force of each user.

In this way, the input device 1 according to Embodiment 3 can detect asimilar user input operation as the above-described Embodiment 2.Furthermore, as a function of the pressure force of each user, the inputdevice 1 according to Embodiment 3 can change the standard to besatisfied by data based on pressure in order to start processingcorresponding to an object after slide input. Therefore, the inputdevice 1 according to Embodiment 3 can further enhance operability.

In the above explanation, the predetermined standard has been viewed asa “threshold for data based on pressure”, and it is determined that the“standard is satisfied” when the standard is reached. Forms ofdetermining whether the standard is satisfied are not, however, limitedin this way, and a variety of embodiments are envisioned as beingincluded. For example, it may be determined that the “standard issatisfied” when data based on pressure accompanying user contact to anobject exceeds the standard. It may also be determined that the“standard is satisfied” when data based on pressure detected by thepressure detection unit 12 indicates the standard.

In the above explanation, the same holds true for the form ofdetermining that the “standard is not satisfied”. In other words, in theabove explanation, it is determined that the standard is not satisfiedin the case of being less than the standard. It may also, however, bedetermined that the “standard is not satisfied” when data based onpressure accompanying user contact to an object is equal to or less thanthe standard. Furthermore, it may also be determined that the “standardis not satisfied” when data based on pressure detected by the pressuredetection unit 12 ceases to indicate the standard.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-describedembodiments, and a variety of modifications and changes are possible.For example, in the above-described embodiments, when data based onpressure satisfies a predetermined standard, the user is caused torecognize that the input operation has been properly detected by thetactile sensation providing unit 13 providing a tactile sensation. Insuch a case, however, instead of providing a tactile sensation, or alongwith provision of a tactile sensation, the user may be caused torecognize that the input operation has been detected by, for example, anaudio output unit generating a particular sound. Furthermore, in theabove case, the user may be caused to recognize that an input operationhas been detected by some sort of change in the display on the displayunit 14.

1. An input device that executes predetermined processing when a contacting object presses inside a predetermined region of a touch sensor and that does not execute the predetermined processing when the contacting object, while pressing the touch sensor, transitions from outside the predetermined region to inside the predetermined region.
 2. A method for control to cause an input device to execute predetermined processing when a contacting object presses inside a predetermined region of a touch sensor and not to execute the predetermined processing when the contacting object, while pressing the touch sensor, transitions from outside the predetermined region to inside the predetermined region. 